Auxiliary cushion for automobile seats and method of producing the same



JR 2,818,912 ILE SEATS AND METHOD SAME 95e Jan. 7, 1958 R. K. ODO.

AUXILIARY CUSHION FOR AU OF PRODUCI Filed Jan R TOMO NG THE 16, 1

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United States Patent O AUXILIARY CUSHION FOR AUTOMOBILE SEATS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME Ralph K. Odor, Jr., Edmond, Okla. Application January 16, 1956, Serial No. 559,433 5 Claims. (Cl. 155-182) This invention relates to improvements in ventilated cushions or seats and particularly to a resilient mat adapted to be made entirely from metal wire, the primary object being to provide an improved construction not only advantageous from the standpoint of saving of material, but in presenting a taut interconnection of parts while maintaining the initial desired softness and resiliency.

It is the most important object of the instant invention to provide a mat-like device consisting essentially of an elongated coil spring wound into a plurality of convolutions but terminating short of a completely lled mass so that the convolutions may be drawn taut by tying7 together the spiral rings of the innermost convolution.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the aforementioned character that employs a relatively rigid, outermost band cooperable with the tying means at the center of the mat in maintaining the convolutions in a taut condition.

A still further object is to provide a device such as above set forth that utilizes a wire locking element to hold the spiral rings of the coil spring interleaved and which locking element is also employed as the means for tying together the initially spaced-apart stretches of the innermost convolution.

A further important object of the instant invention is to provide a novel method for producing a cushion or the like made from wire and having the aforementioned advantages.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view partially broken away illustrating one form of auxiliary cushion for automobile seats or the like made according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view showing the cushion immediately prior to the tying and drawing step; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, plan view showing the finished structure at the center thereof.

The mat-like device shown in the drawing is designed particularly to present an auxiliary cushion 10 adapted to cover the entire seat of an automobile, but it is manifest that cushions of various types and shapes may be produced in accordance with the concepts of the invention and that the same may be employed for various purposes. For example, the same may form the seat and back of a chair if desired by attaching the peripheral edge thereof to a suitable framework.

Except for a cover 12 that is desirably placed on the device, it preferably consists entirely of metal wire that includes a continuous coil spring having a series of spacedapart, spiral rings 14. In carrying out the method contemplated by the instant invention, such coil spring is first threaded onto a continuous outermost, peripheral band 16 of relatively rigid, strong wire material having the ends thereof joined in any suitable manner such as by a clip or by welding (not shown). This presents an outermost convolution 18. Thereupon, the coil spring is wound into a plurality of additional convolutions 20 within the contines of the band 16 terminating in an innermost convolution broadly designated by the numeral 22. Simultaneously, all of the convolution 18, 20 and 22 are so disposed as to interleave the rings 14, as clearly seen in the drawing.

A locking element in the nature of a continuous, relatively thin wire 24 is threaded through the rings 14 of the coil spring to hold the rings 14 so interleaved. Finally, the two stretches 26 and 28 of the innermost convolution 22 are drawn inwardly together into interlaced relationship and tied together in some suitable manner. The terminal end 24a of the locking element 24 may be employed for such purpose and is threaded through the rings 14 of both stretches 26 and 28 as best seen in Fig. 3, to hold all of the convolutions 18, 20 and 22 in a taut condition between the outermost band 16 and the take-up means 24a. A suitable knot 30 in the wire 24a is employed at one end of the stretches 26--28 and when the stretches are thus tied together, the various convolutions of the locking element 24 are held spaced-apart and in engagement with the rings 14 which it interlocks.

It is important to note therefore, that by virtue of discontinuing the coiling operation prior to completely filling the area bounded by the band 16 and thereupon lling the gap shown in Fig. 2 by drawing the stretches 26 and 28 together, there is a substantial saving in material.

Furthermore, when mats of this type are produced by continuing the coiling operation until a suflicient number of convolutions 20 are presented to provide a continuous mat, the rings 14 remain loose on the locking element 24 and the cushioning effect is diminished.

While the mat is normally mashed prior to encasing the same within the envelope 12, holding of the convolutions 20 in a taut condition, prolongs the life of the device and even after substantial use, the rings` 14 maintain their ring-like spiral conguration. The manner of so mashing the rings 14 and shaping the band 16, as well as the nature of the machine for producing the entire device automatically, forms no part of the instant invention and has, therefore, not been shown or described.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the kind described comprising an elongated, continuous coil spring having 1a series of spiral rings, said coil spring being wound into a plurality of convolutions with the rings of each convolution interleaved with the rings of next-adjacent convolutions; a continuous locking element threaded through the rings for maintaining the same in interleaved relationship; and take-up means drawing the innermost of said convolutions inwardly to hold all of the convolutions in a taut condition.

2. A device as set forth in claim l made entirely of metal wire.

3. A device as set forth in claim l wherein said takeup means is a continuation of said locking element.

4. A device of the kind described comprising an elongated, continuous coil spring having a series of spiral rings, said coil spring being wound into a plurality of convolutions with the rings of each convolution interleaved with the rings of next-adjacent convolutions; a continuous locking element threaded through the rings for maintaining the same in interleaved relationship, the innermost of said convolutions having a pair of initially spaced stretches; and take-up means tying together the rings of said stretches and drawing the same inwardly into interlaced relationship to hold all of the convolutions in a taut condition.

5. A device of the kind described comprising an elongated continuous coil spring hav-ing a series of spiral rings, said coil spring being wound into a plurality of convolutions with the rings of each convolution interleaved ICE 3 4 with the rings of next adjacent convolutions; a continusaid convolutions for holding the convolutions taut beous locking element threaded through the rings for maintween the band and the takemp means. taining the same in interleaved relationship; take-up References Cited in the me of this patent means drawing the innermost of said convolutions iri- Wardly to hold `all of the convolutions in a taut Condition; 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS and a continuous band threaded through the outermost 0f 1,911,276 Harley May 30, 1933 

